IRON MOUNTAIN — The Iron Mountain School Board reinstated high school girls and boys golf and tennis at a special meeting Monday.

Approval was given with the stipulation that the athletic committee meet to set standards for participation for each sport that, if not met, could result in the sport being canceled again.

The board had canceled the two sports June 9 due to projected low numbers. But representatives of the girl’s tennis team, which competes in the fall, think they will have enough for a full 12 members. Boys tennis and girls and boys golf compete in the spring, so it’s difficult to predict what the numbers will be. Golf for several years been unable to fill a complete team of five members each, Superintendent Jerry Sardina noted.

Being in a conference and not having enough players is difficult on other schools, too, he added.

“Tennis numbers are higher than we thought, now that everyone’s aware. I don’t know if everyone was aware,” board member Ben DeRidder said.

Regarding social media posts that claimed the cuts were for cost savings, Sardina responded, “It has nothing to do with money. There is very little money savings. The only issue we’re facing is the district’s number of sports for the number of athletes.”

He added, “There’s lots of layers of confusion, lots of rumors. It makes it really difficult.”

Iron Mountain now offers 19 sports, while other districts their size have one to three fewer sports per season, he said. They discussed consolidation with Norway but then the schools would have to combine enrollment numbers, putting them in a higher division.

Another problem is students who are dual athletes who decide to compete in the other sport if there is a conflict.

Spring sports are very challenging because bad weather can play havoc with the schedules, Sardina said, adding he tries to have coaches reschedule so there isn’t a conflict.

Board member Jennifer Solka wondered if there were ways to encourage kids to try out for a sport they haven’t done before or return to a sport they did when younger.

Board member Juan Saldana said he thinks some kids don’t want to play because some coaches don’t spend much time on them. He thinks the district has to set standards so athletes will know for next year if the sport doesn’t meet them, it could be cut.

Setting standards can be difficult, though, because what if the level is 75% and you have 70%, Sardina said.

Former football coach Robin Marttila said trying to find a participation standard will be a “Pandora’s Box,” as there are gray areas with some sports, such as wrestling or track.

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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.